Friday, January 29, 2016

Harley invites readers to
decode the hidden messages that appear in her eighteen animal-themed poems and
learn a bit about the natural world while Noyes awes viewers with stunning
photography. Of course you will find
lions, elephants, giraffes, and hippopotamuses but this celebration of African
wildlife also has some surprises. Kudus, bonobos, cape buffalo, bat-eared foxes,
African wildcats, and hornbills find a place among the more familiar crocodiles
and ostriches.

One of my favorite poems is
titled Moody Guy. This rhino-inspired work begins:

Boulders for shoulders

Elegant horn --

A pointed reminder of the

Unicorn,

Thick leg-pillars bruising
tawny

Yellow grass.

Do you see the beginning of
the message? When the first letter of each word is read vertically, the
complete poems says Beauty In The Beast.

Following the poetry, Harley provides information
about acrostics and encourages readers to invent some of their own. Additional information about each of the featured animals is offered for further reading.

A note from Noyes completes
the book with a look at the life of a wild-life photographer and a discussion
of where the photos were taken.

Consider this book as an inspiration for student poetry and for cross-curriculum connections.

Monday, January 25, 2016

I received word this morning that I will be featured in the upcoming SCN (Story Circle Network) e-letter as a Star Blogger.

The Story Circle Network supports women writers and encourages them to share their stories in both fiction and nonfiction through a variety of genres.
I'm delighted to announce this very special recognition.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Multiple award-winning
author, poet, and playwright, Joyce Carol Thomas offers readers this lovely gem
of a book. Twelve lyrical poems share a glimpse of the African American home
and family distilled by Thomas' into thoughtful word pictures that are rich with
emotional content.

"Cherish Me" is one of my favorites.

Cooper's warm palette lends the illustrations a lush sense of time and place.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Prelutsky delivers his
trademark silliness in this collection of one hundred poems that are filled
with nonsense, goofy rhymes, puns, wordplay, and punchlines that will leave readers
groaning and grinning.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Book Trailer

NEW RELEASE!

A Picture Book for young readers

New Book Trailer

MONTY

BUY A BOOK -- HELP A DOG!Meet Monty -- A remarkable rescue dog with an international following. From his guardians to his doctors, Monty's loving spirit captures hearts with an I-can-do-it grin and a wagging tail.

Proceeds from every sale of Monty's book go to animal rescue organizations.

The Gingerbread Cowboy

The Gingerbread Cowboy

Autographed Copies of The Gingerbread Cowboy are now available online at OutWest Marketing.

REVIEW SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

As an author, I know how personal the writing experience is and I understand how much hard work and heart goes into the creation of a story. I only publish positive reviews so I am very selective when it comes to choosing books to appear on this site.

Before making an inquiry please look at books already reviewed here to get a feel for the types of books that interest me.

To submit a book for review: email your query or press release to jsquiresbooks@ca.rr.com. Include the following information: Cover jpeg, Title, Author, ISBN, Publisher, publication date, number of pages, genre. a brief (about 100 words) summary, book awards or reviews, author bio (50 words or less), and contact information: email, website, blog.

Due to the volume of review requests that I receive, I only respond to inquiries that interest me. If you don't hear from me within 30 days, it is probably safe to assume I won't be in touch.

Netgalley

Star Blogger

Visit My Website

About Me

I began my career writing for regional and national magazines then shifted my interest to children's books. My picture book, "The Gingerbread Cowboy," published by HarperCollins, was the Arizona Governor's 2007 First Grade Book.
I belong to SCBWI and Women Writing the West.

Author Visits

Coming Events

2018

January 13 Celebration of Local Authors - 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main Street Santa Clarita, CA. This is always a fun event with dozens of authors in many different genres on hand to introduce you to their work, share their experiences in panel discussions, and answer questions. Come discover a new favorite author or book!

February 3 Simi Valley Library Annual Book Festival. I'll be the featured author. I'll offer a presentation, and books will be available to purchase and have signed. More details to follow.